Toy



S. L. LONG March 9, 1943.

2 Sheets-Sheet l TOY Filed Nov. l1, 1942 any S. L. LONG March 9, 1943.

TOY

Filed NOV. 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet v`2 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOY Sidney L. Long, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application November 11, 1942, Serial No. 465,281

20 Claims.

My present invention relates to a novel toy and, moreparticularly, to a toy of the see-saw type designed to descend from a raised position by a step-by-step movement during its reciprocatory movement.

An object of this invention is to provide automatic means for controlling the step-by-step descent of the see-saw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reversely-acting toy having reversible automatic means for controlling the step-by-step descent of the see-saw device. Y

Still another object oi the invention is to provide a toy having a yielding fulcrum with suicient tension to support the see-saw device, but which will yield by applied manual force to permit said device to be raised.

A further object of the invention is to provide a see-saw device of novel construction.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of the toy partly in iront elevation and partly in section, some parts being shown in different positions by means of broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section taken on the irregular line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing a modied form of the toy;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section taken on the irregular line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views showing other modications of the toy.

Referring first to the toy shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 'l indicates a reversible frame comprising a pair of parallel, laterally spaced standards 8 having at each end a channel base member S. Formed in the opposing sides of the standards 8 are two series of vertically spaced fulcrum bearings IB in the form of bores, and which bearings of the two series are staggered. i

` A see-saw device II is mounted on the frame 'l for downward travel from an elevated position i by the force of gravity. This see-saw device H comprises a pair of horizontally disposed bars l2 between which the standards 8 extend with working clearance therebetween. End and intermediate cross-tie members i3 and I4, respectively, rigidly connect the bars l2. Each standard 8 projects between one of the end members I3 and the intermediate memberlli having a working clearance sufficient to permit free reciprocating movement of the see-saw device Il and to also permit a limited endwisc shifting movement oi said device during its reciprocating movement, for a purpose that will presently appear.

A fulcrum l5, in the form of a horizontally disposed pin, extends through a hole in the intermediate member l4 with its end portions extending outwardly of said member for alternate engagement with opposing bearings lll of the two series. It may be here stated that the see-saw device llp is balanced about the intermediate member i4 and hence the active end portions o1" the fulcrum l5 are off-center.

It will thus be vseen that as the end portions of the fulcrum l5 successively engage alternate bearings l0 in the two series, the preponderance of weight of the see-saw device Il is alternately shifted from one of its end portions to the other. The length of the fulcrum i5 is such that when the fulcrum I5 is in one of the bearings l, the other end portion thereof is spaced from the bearings ll) in the other series, so that the raised end portion of the see-saw device Il is free to swing downwardly due to its preponderance in weight and position the fulcrum l5 for engagement with a lower bearing in said other series.

Obviously, the staggered bearings I@ and the cooperating ulcrum l5 lower the see-saw device, during its reciprocatory movement, by a step-bystep movement. The bearings l0 terminate short of each base 9 so that when the iulcrum l5 is withdrawn from the lcwermost bearing Ill, the see-saw device Il will drop by the force of gravity onto the active base 9, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 1.

An inanimate iigure I5 is pivoted, below the center of gravity, at I6 to and between the bars I2 at each end of the see-saw device ll for complete rotary movement about the*A pivot I6.

Automatic means is provided for alternately imparting an endwise shifting movement to the see-saw device ll to withdraw its fulcrum l5 from an engaged bearing I0 in one of the series and projecting the same into a lower bearing lil in the other series.` This'automatic means, as shown, is a pair of vertically disposed pins rvl'l device starts its descent.

which loosely extend through bores in the crosstie bars I3 for endwise shifting movement. A ball or knob I8 on each end of each pin I1 limits the endwise movement of said pin in the respective bar I3. These balls I8 are arranged to alternately engage the backs of the standards 8 during the reciprocating movement of the see-saw device II. During the downward movement of one end portion ofthe see-saw device II, the lowermost ball I8 on the respective pin I1 engages the adjacent standard 8 with a lever` action and moves said see-saw device II endwise and there; by withdraws its fulcrum I5 from an engaged bearing I in one series and projects the same into a lower bearing IB in the opposite series. This action of the see-saw deviceI I is alternately and successively repeated until the fulcrum I has been withdrawn from the 1owermost be aring ID, and at which time the see-saw device I I drops by the force of gravity onto the active base E, as shown by broken lines in Fig. l. Just 'after the fulcrum I5 is released from the lowe'rmost bearing I0 and before the see-saw device fconies to rest on the activebase 9, the lowermost balls iS engage the bottom of said base and stop f u'rther downward Vmovement of the vpins I1 and the continued -downward movement of the see-saw device II will project the pins I'I upwardly through the cross-tie bars I3, as shown by broken lines in Fig. l1, and thereby start the-reversing movement of the pins I1.

Obviously, the bearings I0 and co-operating fulcrum I5 give Ithe see-saw device II -a long and relatively slow downward travel during its reciprocating movement. VAt the completion of the operation of the see-saw device Il, the toy may be reversed 'end for end and theroperation just described repeated. The simple operation of manually reversing the toy automatically sets the same into action. At the time the toy is reversed, the reversing ymovement of the'pins i1, which have previously beenvpartially reversed as previously described, will be completedby'the f force of gravity. As the figures I6 are 'pivoted to the see-saw device I I, below the center "of -gravity, the reversing of the toy will cause said figures to automatically lswing Vabout their :pivots I6 and be reversed and face outwardly.

The partial reversing ofthe pins. I1, at the completion 'of the descent of the 'see-'saw device II, is highly important as it always insures the complete reversing of said pin at the time said The automatic endwise shifting movement of the see-saw device I I by the pins I1, which is limited by the crosstie member I4 alternately engaging the 'standards 8, gives a uniform :and positive movement to said device and prevents the lsame from being interrupted during its descent. In fact, the toy will not operate successively without lthe auto"- matic means for endwise sluiting the ksee-saw device II during its descent.

Referring now to the modification of the 'toy shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which differs from the toy shown in Figs. land Zinthat'it is notreversible, and in order topermit the see-saw device to be raised "after itsvdescent, a yielding 'fulcrum is provided and 'the 'automatic means for endwise shiftingsaid ldevice is xed. Thenumeral I9 indicates `a base't'o which a pair of parallel standards 29 is rigidly secured Vat the lower end portions, 'and 'a cross-'tie '1`ne'mber2l rigidly connects 'said' standards iat their upper.

ends. Fulcru'm'beaii'gs 22, similar 'to the bear- 75 moving the see-'saw device du ings I0 are formed in the opposing faces of the standards 20.

The see-saw device 23 comprises a pair of parallel horizontally disposed bars 2d connected between the standards 20 by a cross-tie member 25. A yielding fulcrum 26, in the form of a coiled spring, is mounted at its intermediate portion in the cross-tie member 25 with its end portions arranged to alternately and successively engage the bearings 22 in the two series during the descent of the see-saw device 23. The tension of the fulcrum 26 is suiicient to support the `see-saw device 23 but by applied manual force, to permit the see-saw device to be raised, but will yield as shown by broken lines in Fig. 3, and said 'fulcru'm'iove over thebearings 22 with a ratchetlike action.

' The automatic means for endwise shifting the seelsaw device 23 is a pair of finger-like members 21 that also act as cross-tie members for the bars 24. nately engage the backs of the standards l2IJ below the center of gravity. The cross-tie member 25 limits the endwise shifting movement of the see-saw device 23. An inanimate gure 28 is mounted on each end portion of the see-saw device 23. Attached to the see-saw 'device `23 is a knob 23' for use when manually raising said device.

The toy shown -in Fig.v5 is similar to the toy shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that the ful crum bearings arepins 29 in place of depressions and the fulcrurn 3i] is a pai-r of transverse pins, which also act as cross-ties for the longitudinal bars 3I of thelsee-saw device 52. The base and standards are' designated lby the numerals S3 `and 311, respectively, and the `reversible pins and the cross-tie members, in which they are mounted, are designated by `the numerals 35 and 35, respectively.

The partsof t`he toy shownin Fig-, that cor? respond tothe parts lo f the toy shown in Fig. 3, are given the same Yreference numerals followed by a prime.V In this toy, the fulcrum bearings 31 are in the form of teeth.

From what has been said, it will be understood that the toys described are capable of modifications as to details of construction and arrangement within thescope of the invention herein disclosed and claimed. l

l. A toy, comprising a'fame'having two series of parallel fulcrum bearings vin opposing relation, the bearings in the two series being staggered,a see-sawdevice operated by theforce of Igravity to travel relativeto vthe frame and having a fulcrum for alternate engagement withthewbearings of the two series, and automatic means for ring its travel to withdraw its Yfulcr'u'm fr'on an engaged bearing of one series'and project the same'onto -aulwer bearing of the other series.

2. A toy, comp'r'isigAaL-f-raine having'two series of parallel fulcrum bearings-in opposing relation, the bearings inthetwo Yseries being staggered, a see-saw device `ope`rat-edbythe frce of gravity totav'el relative t'o'the J-frame and having a'fulcrl'im for 'alternate 'engagement -with the bearings 'O f the two 4series, and Va 'pail' f 'ievrselyacting members 'n the see-sawdvice "cnstr'u'cte'd and 'arranged 'to -successively engage nthe -frame and mve the Vsee-saw device 4to withdraw 'its fulcrum from an engaged bearing ofone series andproject the same onto alowerfbearinginethe other series.

These members121 are arranged to alter.-l

- 3. A toy, comprising a frame having vtwo series of parallel fulcrum bearings in opposing relation, the bearings in the two series being staggered, a see-saw device operated by the forceof gravity to travel relative rto the frame and having a fulcrum for alternate engagement withthe bearings of thevtwo series, and a'pair of reverselyacting members on the see-saw device constructed and arranged to successively engage the frame below the center of gravity of said device and move the see-saw device to withdraw its `fulcrum from an engaged bearing of one series and project the same onto a lower bearing in the other series. 4. A toy, vcomprising a frame having two series of parallel ulcrum bearings in .opposing relation, the bearings in the two series being-staggered, a see-saw device operated by the force of gravity to travel relative to the frame and having a fulcrum for alternate engagement with the bearings of the two series, and a pair. of reversely-acting members on the see-saw device constructed and arranged to successively engage the frame back of the two series of bearings and move the seesaw device to withdraw its iulcrum from an engaged bearing of one series and project the same onto a lower bearing in the other series.

5. A toy comprising a reversible frame having two series of parallel fulcrum bearings in opposing relation, the bearings of the two series being staggered, a see-saw device operated by the force of gravity to travel relative to the frame and having a fulcrum for alternate engagement with the bearings of the two series, and reversible automatic means for moving the see-saw device during its travel to withdraw its fulcrum from an engaged bearing in one series and project the same onto a lower bearing of the other series.

6. A toy comprising a reversible frame having two series of parallel iulcrum bearings in opposing relation, the bearings of the two series being staggered, a see-saw device operated by the force of gravity to travel relative to the frame and having a fulcrum for alternate engagement with the bearings of the two series, and reversible automatic means for moving the see-saw device during its travel to withdraw its fulcrum from an engaged bearing in one series and project the same onto a lower bearing of the other series, said reversible automatic means being constructed and arranged to be reversed by the force of gravity at the time the frame is reversed.

7. A toy comprising a reversible frame having two series of parallel fulcrum bearings in opposing relation, the bearings of the two series being staggered, a see-saw device operated by the force of gravity to travel relative to the frame and having a fulcrum for alternate engagement with the bearings of the two series, and reversible automatic means for moving the see-saw device during its travel to withdraw its fulcrum from an engaged bearing in one series and project the same onto a lower bearing of the other series, said reversible automatic means being automatically reversed at the time the frame is reversed.

8. A toy comprising a frame having two series of parallel fulcrum bearings in opposing relation, the bearings in the two series being staggered, a see-saw device operated by the force of gravity to travel relative to the frame and having a fulcrum or alternate engagement with the bearings of the two series, and a pair of pins loosely mounted on the see-saw device for relative limited endwise sliding movement inthe plane of the frame for alternate engagement at their lower ends with the frame, to move the see-saw device during its travel to withdraw its fulcrum from an `engaged bearing o-fone series and proi ject the same onto'` aV lower bearing in the other series. ,Y y

9.A toy comprising a frame having two series of parallel fulcrum bearings in opposingrelation, the bearings in the two series being staggered, a see-sawdevice operated by the force of gravity to travel relative to the framek and havin-g a fulcrum for alternate engagement with the bearings of the two series, andapair ofA pins loosely mounted on the see-saw device for relative limited endwise sliding movement in the plane of the frame for alternate engagement at, their lower ends with the frame back of the two series of bearings below the center of gravity.

10. A toy comprising a'frame having two series of parallel fulcrum bearings in opposing relation, the bearings in the two series being staggered, a see-'saw device operated by .the force of gravity to travel relative to the frame and having a ful- Crum for alternate engagement with the bear' ings of the two series, and a pair of pins loosely mounted on the see-saw device for relative lim-y ited endwise sliding movement in the plane of the frame fori alternate engagement at their lower ends with the frame, to move the see-saw device during its travel to withdraw its iulcrurn from an engaged bearing of one series and project the .same onto a lower bearing in the other series, said pins being automatically reversed bythe force of gravity at the time the frame is reversed. f

11. A toy comprising a reversible frame having two seriesv of parallel fulcrum bearings in ,opposing relation, the bearings of the two series being staggered, a see-saw device operated by the force of gravity to travel relative to the frame and having a fulcrum for alternate engagement with the bearings of the two series, reversible automatic means for moving the see-saw device during its travel to withdraw its iulcrum from an engaged bearing in one series and project the same onto a lower bearing of the other series, and positive means for imparting the initial reversing movement to the automatic means.

12. A toy comprising a frame having two series of parallel fulcrum bearings in opposing relation, the bearings in the two series being staggered, a see-saw device operated by the force of gravity to travel relative to the frame and having a fulcrum for alternate engagement with the bearings of the two series, a pair of pins loosely mounted on the see-saw device for relative limited end'- wise sliding movement in the plane of the frame for alternate engagement at their lower ends with the frame, to move the see-saw device during its travel to withdraw its fulcrum from an engaged bearing of one series and project the same onto a lower bearing in the other series, and means for stopping the downward movement of the pins prior to that of the see-saw device to l start the reversing movement of the pins.

13. A toy comprising a frame having two series of parallel fulcrum bearings in opposing relation, the bearings of the two series being staggered, a see-saw device operated by the force of gravity to travel relative to the frame and having a fulcrum for alternate engagement with the bearings of the two series, said fulcrum being constructed and arranged to support the see-saw device from the frame and to yield by manual force to permit the see-saw device to be raised in the frame.

14. A toy comprising a frame having two series of w parallel fulcru'm Abear-ingsV 1in vnpposing relation, the-bearings of the two serie'sbeing'staggered, a see-sawidevic'e operated lby 'the force :of gravity to travel relative to the frame and lhaving a fulcrum 'for alternate engagement with the bearings ofthe two series, `said .ffulcrum -being :constructedand-arranged to support `'theiseesaw device from the frame and to-'yieldfb'yimanual force and move over the bearings fWith fa ratchet-like action to `permit the see-saw device to be raised in the `frame. l Y

15. y:A .toy comprising a :frame 'having two 45series :of :parallel fulcrum Jbearin'gs in opposing .frelation, "the .bearings of the two iseries beingstaggered, 'a'see-saw device operated by' the `foroefpf gravity to travel relative to :the :frame Aand `.having-a fulcrum in the formiofalfspring'formalternate engagement with the'sbea'rings 'of V"thetvvo series, said .fulc'rum having fisuflcient :tensionto support the see-saw from the framelout will .yield by manual `force topermit'thesee-saw device to be raised in the frame.

Y16. A toy comprising 1a Lframe having two series o'fpa'rallelful'crum bearings in opposing relation, the bearings Aof the .ftwo series being staggered, ia see-saw device operatedbyth'e Aforce of .gravity to :travel relative to vthe irame and having a fulcrum in lthe form ,of fafcoiled spring for alternate engagement with the Abearings Vof the two series, said .fulcrum having suicient tension to support Ythe see-'saw fromthe frame but willyield by manual kforce to permit the yseesaw device to be raised in the frame,

17. Ina toy, the combination With a 4pairof parallel standards having on their opposing sides amante fulci'um bearings, oi" a `see-saw Adevice 'comprising ia pair of longitudinal :bars ibetween 'which the vstani'iarfcis'lprolient.:andi-a fulcrum .carried by said .'barsan'd .extendingbetween .'.the standards forA ioooperation with the lbearin'gs.

.18; In :a toy, fthe-'combination With ya .pair of parallel standards having ion their opposing sidesliulerum Ibearing's, `of aisee-.saw 1 device comprisinfgv fa pair :of 'longitudinal bars vbetween Whi'chzthe-.istandardsproject, va cross-tie member extending Ibetween the standards and 'connectinga'sai'd lba'rs, .and 1 a fulcrumzpin `mounted :at its intermediate :portion .on the cross-tie `member A with itsend Vportionsarranged for .co-.operation with Ithe bearings.

19. In 'a `toy, '.the combination with a pair of parallel standards having on their opposing sides fulcrum bearings, :of-a see-saw .device `comprising a xpair of .longitudinal bars between which the standards .project,'and afulcrum. in the form .of .a spring 1 mounted .at Iits intermediate portiononthe cross-tiemernber With its 'end portions arranged rior cri-.operation with .the bearings.

-20. In a toy, the`combination .with a .pair-of parallel .standards :having on :their yopposing,

sides Vfulcruni bearings, of Aa fsee-saw device comprising a .pair of .longitudinal .bars v`between which fthe standards project, and a `fulcrum in the form 'of 'a coiled spring'mounted ,at its Yintermediate'portion on;the crosstie member with its end portions arranged for `co-'operation 4vvith the' bearings.

:SIDNEY L. lL'ONG. 

